The iPhone Mini: A Brief History and Its Uncertain Future

A few weeks ago, during Apple's annual fall event, the company announced a new larger regular iPhone called the 14 plus. However, for the sake of all intents and purposes, the iPhone Mini is effectively dead. At least, that's what it seems like. In reality, the iPhone Mini was replaced by an iPhone SE, which has become a staple in Apple's lineup.

For those who may be wondering, there have been three versions of the iPhone SE, all of which have used an older body design but are packed with a processor from a newer iPhone. The result is a low-cost iPhone with modern performance inside and an older design. Aside from the iPhone Mini, the SC (Special Edition) series is not only Apple's most affordable option but also one of its smallest.

Looking back six years to 2016, we see that the first iPhone SE debuted in the body of an iPhone 5s, with the internals of an iPhone 6s. This "SE" stood for Special Edition, a nod to those who thought the iPhone 6 and 6s were too big. Fast-forwarding to 2020, Apple released a new iPhone SE, this time using the body of an iPhone 8 with the internals of an iPhone 11. However, what many of us had hoped for was a small version of an iPhone that used Face ID and had a larger, better-quality display with smaller bezels – even if it meant paying more money.

The iPhone 12 mini was released in 2020 as a high-end, compact version of the iPhone 12. It's significantly smaller than the 2020 iPhone SE but has everything the regular iPhone 12 has, minus bezels and with a 5.4-inch screen. For perspective, the iPhone 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, and so on all had a 5.5-inch screen inside a much bigger body that weighed a lot more than the 12 Mini.

Last year's release of the iPhone 13 mini brought better battery life to those who were eager for an upgrade. The new model also packed the same main camera hardware as the one from the iPhone 12 Pro Max. As of September 2022, however, the iPhone Mini is no more. You can still buy the 13 Mini from Apple for $599, which is a fantastic price considering what you get.

There are friends of mine with the 12 Mini who are tempted to upgrade to the 13 Mini just because they want the latest and greatest version of the iPhone Mini. However, when reviewing the 2022 iPhone SE, one of my questions was how appealing the hardware would be in three or four years' time. The SC's display is a 4.7-inch LCD that's been around since the iPhone 8, and it already looks a bit dated. I imagine in two or three years, it will look even more so.

So, what does this mean for the future of the iPhone SE? In my opinion, for the next version of the SC, we need a new iPhone body to inhabit. The first SE was based on the 5S body, followed by the iPhone 8 body in 2020 and then the iPhone 13 mini's body. Now, it seems like a possibility – but let's be realistic – there are no guarantees that Apple will follow this path.

Rumors abound from analysts, YouTubers, and even display supply chain consultants about what the next iPhone SE might look like. John Prosser of Geared Up said on The Geared Up Podcast that the next iPhone SE will be based on the iPhone 10r and its 6.1-inch display. Meanwhile, Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, posted on Twitter back in January that the next SE could have a 5.7-inch display. He omitted his tweet, adding that he meant the 2023-2024 SE model.

For those of us who are fans of compact iPhones, the thought of an iPhone SE based on the 13 Mini's body is tantalizing – but we might never see it happen. If there ever was a chance, I'd love to see Apple offer a smaller version of the iPhone with modern specs and design. The SC series has proven itself as a popular choice for those who want a compact iPhone without breaking the bank.

The future of the iPhone Mini is uncertain at best. While some might say it's dead, others believe that the SE will continue in its current form. With Apple always pushing innovation, we can't predict what the future holds – but one thing is certain: the world needs more compact iPhones like the SC series.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthis is the iPhone 12 mini and this the iPhone 13 mini so where's the 14 mini well a few weeks back during its annual fall event Apple announced a new larger regular iPhone called the 14 plus as for the 14 mini well it's nowhere essentially Apple replaced it's Danny DeVito with Arnold Schwarzenegger so to speak Apple didn't need to say it but for all intents and purposes the iPhone Mini was dead or is it let me explain is the many really dead well maybe not see there have been three versions of the iPhone SE all of which have used an older body design but are packed with a processor from a newer iPhone the result is a low-cost iPhone with Modern Performance inside and older design aside from the iPhone Mini the SC is not only Apple's most affordable option but one of its smallest and it makes sense to me that in a couple of years the iPhone 13 Mini's body will be repurposed and updated with a newer a series chip sold as a 2024 iPhone SE now let me explain my thinking and to do so we got to go back about six years in 2016 the very first iPhone SE debuted inside the body of an iPhone 5s with the internals of an iPhone 6s the SE stood for special edition but for those who thought the iPhone 6 and 6s were too big the SC really stood for small addition in 2020 Apple released a new iPhone SC this time using the body of an iPhone 8 with the internals of an iPhone 11. it was great but what many of us had hoped for was a small version of an iPhone that used face ID and had a larger better quality display smaller bezels even if it meant paying more money in fact many of us wondered if such a high-end small iPhone would be called the iPhone 9 since Apple had skipped from 8 to 10. and that's when the iPhone 12 mini came out it's a skosh smaller than the 2020 iPhone se but had everything the regular iPhone 12 had it was just smaller the 12 mini lacked bezels and had a 5.4 inch screen for perspective the iPhone 6 Plus 6s plus 7 plus 8 plus all had a 5.5 inch screen inside a much bigger body that weighed a lot more than the 12 Mini then last year Apple released an iPhone 13 mini that had better battery life of the 12 mini and packed the same main camera Hardware as the one from the iPhone 12 Pro Max but as of September 2022 the mini is no more yeah you can still buy the 13 mini from Apple for 5.99 which is definitely a great price in terms of what you get and there are friends of mine with the 12 mini who are tempted to buy the 13 mini just to have the latest slash last slash best version of the iPhone Mini but is the mini really dead maybe not see when I reviewed the 2022 iPhone SE which is nearly identical to the 2020 SE one of the things I wondered about was how appealing the hardware would be in three or four years time the sc's display is a 4.7 inch LCD and it's the same one for all intents and purposes that came out with the the iPhone 8 and in 2022 it already looks a bit dated and I imagine in two or three years it will look even more so it seems to me that for the next version of the SC we need a new iPhone body to inhabit so the first SC was based on the 5S body the second and third one based on the iPhone 8 body then the next SE could be based on the iPhone 13 minis body maybe possibly wishful thinking but will Apple do it now obviously we won't know until the next SE is launched but no surprise there are rumors analysts and YouTuber John Prosser said on the geared up Podcast that the next iPhone SE will be based on the iPhone 10r and its 6.1 inch display meanwhile Ross young the CEO of display supply chain Consultants posted on Twitter back in January that the next SE could have a 5.7 inch display he omitted his tweet in a comment saying that he meant the 2023-2024 SE model I realized there might never be an iPhone SE based on the 13 minis body but for all of us small iPhone lovers out there I hope there is and now I want to hear from you what do you think Apple's going to do for the next SE and would you want the next SE to be based on an iPhone Mini body also we do these videos covering Apple stuff every week let us know in the comments what you'd like to see last do all the YouTube things subscribe hit the Bell like this video and thank you for watchingthis is the iPhone 12 mini and this the iPhone 13 mini so where's the 14 mini well a few weeks back during its annual fall event Apple announced a new larger regular iPhone called the 14 plus as for the 14 mini well it's nowhere essentially Apple replaced it's Danny DeVito with Arnold Schwarzenegger so to speak Apple didn't need to say it but for all intents and purposes the iPhone Mini was dead or is it let me explain is the many really dead well maybe not see there have been three versions of the iPhone SE all of which have used an older body design but are packed with a processor from a newer iPhone the result is a low-cost iPhone with Modern Performance inside and older design aside from the iPhone Mini the SC is not only Apple's most affordable option but one of its smallest and it makes sense to me that in a couple of years the iPhone 13 Mini's body will be repurposed and updated with a newer a series chip sold as a 2024 iPhone SE now let me explain my thinking and to do so we got to go back about six years in 2016 the very first iPhone SE debuted inside the body of an iPhone 5s with the internals of an iPhone 6s the SE stood for special edition but for those who thought the iPhone 6 and 6s were too big the SC really stood for small addition in 2020 Apple released a new iPhone SC this time using the body of an iPhone 8 with the internals of an iPhone 11. it was great but what many of us had hoped for was a small version of an iPhone that used face ID and had a larger better quality display smaller bezels even if it meant paying more money in fact many of us wondered if such a high-end small iPhone would be called the iPhone 9 since Apple had skipped from 8 to 10. and that's when the iPhone 12 mini came out it's a skosh smaller than the 2020 iPhone se but had everything the regular iPhone 12 had it was just smaller the 12 mini lacked bezels and had a 5.4 inch screen for perspective the iPhone 6 Plus 6s plus 7 plus 8 plus all had a 5.5 inch screen inside a much bigger body that weighed a lot more than the 12 Mini then last year Apple released an iPhone 13 mini that had better battery life of the 12 mini and packed the same main camera Hardware as the one from the iPhone 12 Pro Max but as of September 2022 the mini is no more yeah you can still buy the 13 mini from Apple for 5.99 which is definitely a great price in terms of what you get and there are friends of mine with the 12 mini who are tempted to buy the 13 mini just to have the latest slash last slash best version of the iPhone Mini but is the mini really dead maybe not see when I reviewed the 2022 iPhone SE which is nearly identical to the 2020 SE one of the things I wondered about was how appealing the hardware would be in three or four years time the sc's display is a 4.7 inch LCD and it's the same one for all intents and purposes that came out with the the iPhone 8 and in 2022 it already looks a bit dated and I imagine in two or three years it will look even more so it seems to me that for the next version of the SC we need a new iPhone body to inhabit so the first SC was based on the 5S body the second and third one based on the iPhone 8 body then the next SE could be based on the iPhone 13 minis body maybe possibly wishful thinking but will Apple do it now obviously we won't know until the next SE is launched but no surprise there are rumors analysts and YouTuber John Prosser said on the geared up Podcast that the next iPhone SE will be based on the iPhone 10r and its 6.1 inch display meanwhile Ross young the CEO of display supply chain Consultants posted on Twitter back in January that the next SE could have a 5.7 inch display he omitted his tweet in a comment saying that he meant the 2023-2024 SE model I realized there might never be an iPhone SE based on the 13 minis body but for all of us small iPhone lovers out there I hope there is and now I want to hear from you what do you think Apple's going to do for the next SE and would you want the next SE to be based on an iPhone Mini body also we do these videos covering Apple stuff every week let us know in the comments what you'd like to see last do all the YouTube things subscribe hit the Bell like this video and thank you for watching\n"